Chrysanthemum plant named Dorado

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Dorado characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form, decorative capitulum type, deep yellow ray floret color, diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 8.5 to 9.0 cm. at maturity, uniform nine week flowering response, tall plant height when grown single stem, 20 to 25 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays, 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering buds under a 12 hour continuous dark period, and high leaf and flower durability.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Dorado.

Dorado is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars having low temperaturetolerance for cut spray mum programs, with decorative capitulum type,yellow ray floret color, eight to nine week flowering response, and theability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year roundprograms. Such traits in combination were not present or neededimprovement in previously available commercial cultivars.

Dorado was identified as 81762016 and was originated from a cross madeby William E. Duffett in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif. in 1980. The female parent was Win, identified as 781574004, anddisclosed by U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,108. The male parent of Dorado,identified as 78759001, was an unnamed seedling.

Dorado was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on Nov. 6, 1981 in acontrolled environment in Bogota, Colombia.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Dorado was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February1982 in a controlled environment in Bogota, Colombia by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett through Fernando Jaramillo.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated March 1983 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Dorado are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Dorado has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Bogota, Colombia under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used there in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Dorado which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Deep yellow ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 8.5 to 9.0 cm. atmaturity.

5. Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Long peduncle length, ranging from 20 to 25 cm.

7. Tall plant height, requiring one long day week prior to short days toattain a flowered plant height of 90 to 105 cm. for year aroundflowering.

8. Low temperature tolerance of 13° C. for initiation and developmentwhen grown in single stem cut spray programs with a continuous darkperiod of 12 hours.

9. High leaf and flower durability with high shipping and keepingquality.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Dorado with the colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of Dorado grown as a single stem cut spray. Sheet 2 is ablack and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence ofDorado. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the uppersurface and under surface of leaves of Dorado at three stages ofdevelopment (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Dorado is Yellow Polaris. Reference is made toattached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Dorado tothose same characteristics of Yellow Polaris. Dorado develops deeperyellow color, has a taller plant height, and is two weeks faster inresponse under short photoperiods. The type, form, peduncle of length,low temperature tolerance, and inflorescence diameter of Dorado aresimilar to those same characteristics of Yellow Polaris.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:15 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. on Dec. 27, 1983 under 380 footcandlelight intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Dorado.

Commercial.--Decorative cut spray mum.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form: Flat. Type: Decorative. Diameter Across Face: 8.5to 9.0 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--Color (General Tonality From A Distance ofThree Meters): Deep yellow. Color (upper surface): 9A, 9B. Color (undersurface): 9C. Shape: Oblong. Rays roll laterally.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): 2A. Color (immature): 1A.

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present disc florets only; scantpollen. Gyneocium: Present both ray and disc florets.

II. Plant:

A. General appearance.--Height: Tall; 90 to 105 cm. as a flowering plantfrom a rooted cutting, with seven long days for year around floweringmaintaining a minimum nightly 12 hour continuous dark period.

B. Foliage.--Color (upper surface): 137A. Color (under surface): 147B.Shape: Shallow, narrow lobed with slight serration.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF DORADO AND YELLOW POLARIS                                       ______________________________________                                                   RAY FLORET   CAPITULUM                                             CULTIVAR   COLOR        FORM AND TYPE                                         ______________________________________                                        DORADO     DEEP         FLAT                                                             YELLOW       DECORATIVE                                            YELLOW     YELLOW       FLAT                                                  POLARIS                 DECORATIVE                                            ______________________________________                                                  SPRAY        DIAMETER ACROSS                                        CULTIVAR  FORMATION    FACE OF CAPITULUM                                      ______________________________________                                        DORADO    20 to 25 cm. 8.5 to 9.0 cm.                                                   PEDUNCLES                                                           YELLOW    20 to 25 cm. 8.0 to 9.0 cm.                                         POLARIS   PEDUNCLES                                                           ______________________________________                                                           FLOWERING   LOW                                                     PLANT     RESPONSE    TEMPERATURE                                    CULTIVAR HEIGHT    PERIOD      TOLERANCE                                      ______________________________________                                        DORADO   TALL       9 WEEKS    13° C.                                           90 to                                                                         105 cm.                                                              YELLOW   TALL      11 WEEKS    13° C.                                  POLARIS  90 to                                                                         100 cm.                                                              ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM CUT SPRAY MUMS WITH 7 LONG DAYS                                          IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA                                                           ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct plant of Chrysanthemum morifolium, namedDorado, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized asto uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form;decorative capitulum type; deep yellow ray floret color; diameter acrossface of capitulum ranging from 8.5 to 9.0 cm. at maturity; uniform nineweek flowering response; tall plant height when grown single stem; 20 to25 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; 13° C. minimumtemperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering budsunder a 12 hour continuous dark period, and high leaf and flowerdurability.